Bathing apparatus.



' No. 699,589. Patented May 6, I902. W. J. STOFFEL.

BATHING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Dec. 81, 1900.)

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NlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. STOFFEL, OF SANDUSKY, OHIO.

BATHING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,589, dated May 6, 1902.

Application filed December 31, 1900. Serial No. 41,589. N mod l-l amount of space.

Another important object is to provide an article of this character which may be raised and carried about without the danger of spilling its contents and to employ a novel construction whereby said contents may be readily emptied.

To the accomplishment of these several objects the construction described in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings is preferred, although it will be readily understood that slight changes may be made therefrom as fall within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bath receptacle or vessel embodying the presentimprovement. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating its position when raised from the floor or other support. Fig. 4: is a plan view of the receptacle.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing's.

In carrying out the invention a body is employed which comprises a bottom 10, made of flexible waterproof material, such as rubber cloth or the like, cut into circular form and having an upstanding annular rim 11, which forms the side walls of said body. This rim may be constructed in any manner desired; but, as illustrated, it comprises an inner flexible cord 12, surrounded bya sheathing 13, the ends of which are stitched and cemented or otherwise secured to the edges of the bottom 10, so that a water-tight joint will be formed. Handle elements 16 extend diametrically across the upper face of the receptacle and are thus located in intersecting relation, but

are preferably not secured together at their points of intersection. These handles are in the form of strips or cords of flexible material, and their ends are secured to ears 14, having eyes 15, which are located above the edge of the rim, the said eyes receiving the ends of the handles. These ears, as shown, are socured to the exterior face of the rim 11.

The manner of using the device will be readily apparent. It is laid fiat upon the floor, and water poured therein will be held from running off by the upstanding rim or side walls. After use the receptacle may be lifted by grasping both of the handle elements at their points of intersection. As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the device will then form itself practically into the shape of a bag, for the reason that the ends of the handle elements are spaced at equal distances apart, and the rim will therefore fold or pueker equally, so that the receptacle may be transported without any danger of spilling the water contained therein. To empty it, it is only necessary to grasp the rim between a pair of the handle terminals, and .upon raising the same the water will be discharged from the opposite portion.

It will thus be seen that an exceedingly simple device is obtained which, being made of flexible material, can be folded compactly and is thus especially adapted for use by travelers. It will be understood, however, that although particularly described as a bathing-receptacle it may be used in many other ways.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minordetails of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a receptacle of the class described, a collapsible body comprising a flexible bottom and an upstanding flexible rim, and a plurality of handle elements secured at the sides of the receptacle and extending across the same, said handle elements being arranged in intersecting relation.

2. A receptacle of the class described, comprising a collapsible body having a flexible bottom and a continuous flexible upstanding rim, and a plurality of flexible handle elements, the ends of said elements being secured to the edge of the receptacle, the distance between the points of attachment of the several ends being equal.

In a receptacle of the class described, a collapsible body comprising a flexible bottom having a continuous flexible upstanding rim, and a plurality of flexible handle elements, the ends of each handle element being secured to diametrically opposite portions of the body, whereby said handle elements will be located in intersecting relation.

4. In a receptacleot the class described, a

collapsible body comprising a bottom made of flexible Waterproof material having a flexible continuous upstanding side rim, ears secured to the edge of the body at diametrically opposite points and having eyes at their terminals which project above the side walls,

WILLIAM J. STOFFEL.

Witnesses:

O'r'ro W. RINDEELY, O. B. WINTERS. 

